Butternut Squash? Spinach? Count me in!

When I know that I am going to have a busy week, one of my favorite lunch/dinner items is a good salad. Salads can be more fun than just lettuce, cheese, and dressing. I found this salad and really liked it. It is a lighter salad and the ingredients definitely make it extra tasty!

The main part of the salad is butternut squash, which I really like. When you put it in a salad, it adds a good texture and taste. Spinach is a very healthy type of lettuce and is really good for your bones! Finally, the goat cheese brings good flavor to the salad which I really liked.

Recipe Credit: https://www.cookingclassy.com/butternut-squash-pomegranate-and-goat-cheese-spinach-salad-with-red-wine-vinaigrette/

Ingredients:

For the Salad

• 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

• 10 oz baby spinach

• 1 1/4 cups pomegranate arils

• 4 oz goat cheese or feta, crumbled

• 5 cups of diced and cooked butternut squash

Dressing

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1/2 cup of olive oil

• 3 Tbsp minced shallot

• 2 1/2 Tbsp honey

• 1 Tbsp dijon mustard

• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  

Directions:

1. For the butternut squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put squash on a baking sheet drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Bake in oven for 15 minutes then remove from oven and toss. Return to oven and bake until tender, around 10 minutes. Cool before putting it on the salad.

2. For the Salad: In a large salad bowl toss together spinach, squash, 1/2 of the pecans and 1/2 of the pomegranate arils. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing and gently toss. Sprinkle with remaining pecans, pomegranate arils and goat cheese and serve immediately.

3. For the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender and season with salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper). Process until well emulsified.

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Kate's Tips:

1. You can use minced garlic in the dressing if you can't find shallots. It still tastes good!

2. If you like pomegranates, but know how to take out the fruit, look for pre-hulled pomegranates at your grocery store (maybe in freezer or fruit aisle). If you do not like the fruit, you do not have to use it.

3. If you have any nut allergies, this salad is just as tasty without the pecans.

Accommodations:

1. If you are afraid to use cut the squash with a knives, you can either ask for help or buy it precut at the grocery store. It can be tricky to take off the skin and scrape out the seeds. Don't feel bad if you need a little help!